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          Ashley Cole joins Roma

          • Ben Gladwell, Italy correspondentJul 7, 2014, 11:53 AM ET

          Ashley Cole has signed a two-year contract with Roma, joining the Serie A club on a free transfer from Chelsea.

          - De Martinis: Cole brings experience and depth

          Last season's Serie A runners-up announced the agreement on Monday after the player successfully passed a medical in Italy.

          "AS Roma SpA announce that a two-year contract, with an expiry of 20 June 2016, has been signed with the footballer Ashley Cole. The agreement also includes the option, on the part of the club, to extend the contract by a further season," a statement on the Giallorossi's website read.

          Cole arrived in the Eternal City on Monday morning, where he was met by a large group of Roma fans. He was taken for a medical before personal terms were agreed and his signing was first announced by the Serie A club on Twitter.

          The England international was out of contract at the end of last month, having spent the last eight seasons at Stamford Bridge following an acrimonious transfer from London rivals Arsenal in 2006. He played 338 times for the Blues, winning the Premier League with them in 2010 and the FA Cup four times.

          Cole joins a Roma side that pushed Juventus close for the Serie A title last season, finishing second to secure a return to the Champions League next season after a three-year absence.

          Cole's signature came only moments after Salih Ucan had also put pen to paper on a one-year loan move from Fenerbahce.

          Ucan's short-term deal will cost Roma 4.75 million euros and includes the option for a further one-season loan without any extra payment.

          Should Roma then wish to make his move permanent, they would have to spend a further 11 million euros, from the 2016-17 season, to acquire the Turkey international outright.

          Ucan and Cole become the second and third new players in Rudi Garcia's squad next season, after the arrival of Seydou Keita. Urby Emanuelson is also expected to join on a free from AC Milan while Fiorentina's Juan Cuadrado is another target.

          A statement on the Italian club's official website read: "A.S. Roma S.p.A. would like to announce that it has agreed a loan deal with Fenerbahce Futbol A.S. for the player Salih Ucan for a fee of 4.75 million euros.

          "The contract is valid for the 2014-15 season and includes an option to extend the loan for another year, at no additional cost, and sign the player permanently from the 2016-17 season for a fee of 11 million euros.

          "Salih Ucan has therefore signed a five-year contract, which expires on June 30, 2019."